Beach holiday - good to get a break?
Discussion
Am I the only ones who finds holidays abroad terrible stressful and not in the least bit relaxing?
My wife likes a beach holiday and we invariably end up on the beach in Spain/Greece/Dubai etc but personally after a week at these places it takes me a month at work to recover from the physical and mental stress of the holiday itself.
Just back from a week away and I have an ear infection from the dodgy pools, mosquito bites all over, put on at least a stone in weight and feel totally zapped of all energy and motivation.
Am I just going to wrong places?
My wife likes a beach holiday and we invariably end up on the beach in Spain/Greece/Dubai etc but personally after a week at these places it takes me a month at work to recover from the physical and mental stress of the holiday itself.
Just back from a week away and I have an ear infection from the dodgy pools, mosquito bites all over, put on at least a stone in weight and feel totally zapped of all energy and motivation.
Am I just going to wrong places?
Sounds like it mate, I have spent most weeks abroad the last ten years snowboarding... now that is something that takes some recovery, sometimes moreso if i break myself while away.
On the odd occasion i've done a beach holiday, it has been relaxing to the point of numbness...getting back into the swing of work is a real effort.
Wife aside, what and where is the idea of YOUR relaxing holiday?
On the odd occasion i've done a beach holiday, it has been relaxing to the point of numbness...getting back into the swing of work is a real effort.
Wife aside, what and where is the idea of YOUR relaxing holiday?
We’ve had two distinctly different holidays this summer, 10 days in an all inclusive hotel near Malaga and 10 days camping and walking in the Lake District.
On one I got a dodgy tummy with accompanying trots, insect bites, sand rash, dodgy ear and kids wanting to go see the “entertainment” every evening.
The other involved long walks and little train journeys and drives through beautiful countryside, spending all day outdoors with friends and having a real good laugh. Slept like a log, woke up fresh (we were camping) and generally had a great time.
Kids had a great time on both but preferred Spain. Mrs H and I both ‘got through’ Spain and had a truly wonderful time in the lakes.
Next year we will skip the beach holiday and go camping for a month.
On one I got a dodgy tummy with accompanying trots, insect bites, sand rash, dodgy ear and kids wanting to go see the “entertainment” every evening.
The other involved long walks and little train journeys and drives through beautiful countryside, spending all day outdoors with friends and having a real good laugh. Slept like a log, woke up fresh (we were camping) and generally had a great time.
Kids had a great time on both but preferred Spain. Mrs H and I both ‘got through’ Spain and had a truly wonderful time in the lakes.
Next year we will skip the beach holiday and go camping for a month.
Did a Cornwall beach last week.
Went with my teenage boys and my girlfriend's 6 year old.
Only peace I got was sitting on a boogie board out in the waves.
In fact the stress of the holiday was so much that the girlfriend and I split yesterday.
I fekin' hate holidays.
Although saying that, if the nice weather continues, I may just take myself off to a little cottage in Cornwall and get some surfing lessons.
Went with my teenage boys and my girlfriend's 6 year old.
Only peace I got was sitting on a boogie board out in the waves.
In fact the stress of the holiday was so much that the girlfriend and I split yesterday.
I fekin' hate holidays.
Although saying that, if the nice weather continues, I may just take myself off to a little cottage in Cornwall and get some surfing lessons.
We used to do this sort of thing (usually villa in the Med) alternate years, as it was my OH's thing, then last time she got horribly homesick so now we (shoot me for using the term) "staycation".
For my part, while resenting the cost, I did quite enjoy the relaxation, but found any advantage was completely eradicated by the process of travelling home. It doesn't matter how near or far you go to for a beach holiday, on the last day you are kicked out of your accommodation at 10am and you don't get home until bed time.
For my part, while resenting the cost, I did quite enjoy the relaxation, but found any advantage was completely eradicated by the process of travelling home. It doesn't matter how near or far you go to for a beach holiday, on the last day you are kicked out of your accommodation at 10am and you don't get home until bed time.
272BHP said:
We did do an Activity holiday a few years ago that was physically exhausting but great fun - all day playing Tennis/Cycling/Canoeing/Swimming etc
That was my my type of thing and incredibly energising - sadly my wife is no longer interested in anything like that.
maybe you need to do the week on the beach to satisfy her indoors, then get a couple mates together and go do something more activity based for a week to get your fix.That was my my type of thing and incredibly energising - sadly my wife is no longer interested in anything like that.
That's worked well enough for me in the past, although this winter coming will be the first in ten years that i'm not getting away to the mountains at all...adult financial responsibilities came calling.
Sounds like a lack of imagination. I'm not a fan of lying on the beach, however I am a fan of body boarding with the kids, swimming in the sea, early (ish) morning runs along the beach (sometimes with the kids), beach volley ball, cricket, kites, etc, etc.
Hiring bikes for the day (for which ever family member is interested) to explore.
As with most holidays they are what you make of it..........
Hiring bikes for the day (for which ever family member is interested) to explore.
As with most holidays they are what you make of it..........
WestyCarl said:
Sounds like a lack of imagination. I'm not a fan of lying on the beach, however I am a fan of body boarding with the kids, swimming in the sea, early (ish) morning runs along the beach (sometimes with the kids), beach volley ball, cricket, kites, etc, etc.
Hiring bikes for the day (for which ever family member is interested) to explore.
As with most holidays they are what you make of it..........
very much this, best bit of a beach holiday for me is hiring a sea kayak and paddling off, or snorkelling.Hiring bikes for the day (for which ever family member is interested) to explore.
As with most holidays they are what you make of it..........
First day away I’m restless and cannot settle this reduces dramatically by the third day.
Fourth day I’m properly relaxed , reading , listening to music , boozy lunches, the usual .
Sixth day is all b
ks , I’ve got to go home tomorrow is the thought running through my head and then I get all restless again.
Airports stress me out , by the time I take off I need another holiday....
Fourth day I’m properly relaxed , reading , listening to music , boozy lunches, the usual .
Sixth day is all b
ks , I’ve got to go home tomorrow is the thought running through my head and then I get all restless again.Airports stress me out , by the time I take off I need another holiday....
Johnnytheboy said:
I did quite enjoy the relaxation, but found any advantage was completely eradicated by the process of travelling home. It doesn't matter how near or far you go to for a beach holiday, on the last day you are kicked out of your accommodation at 10am and you don't get home until bed time.
Johnnytheboy has nailed it for me with this one; the degrading experience of flying out of the UK is one thing, but being having to leave your accomodation early in the morning and sometimes be on a flight some 12 or more hours later in a place that is boiling hot is really no fun and you just end up getting home exhausted. Mrs DS was moaning for a beach holiday (where she will lie there all day long and I will be bored to tears) this year, but somehow I have managed to prevail and we are off e-biking in Bavaria and driving there by some lovely places. Far nicer.
Hate them, hate them, hate them. Mrs TH? Adores them. She can lie by the pool all day long reading some spoff or other. Me? Lie by the pool? No way. One of two things happen when we book a holiday in the sun. Either we get near to the time and I get 'too busy' with work and send her mother with her instead or by noon on the first day I'm hiring a jeep or such like, chucking my boys in with me and spending most of the day on manoeuvres. Looking at stuff, finding explory places. Back to the digs for dinner out some where and a few local shandies.
272BHP said:
We did do an Activity holiday a few years ago that was physically exhausting but great fun - all day playing Tennis/Cycling/Canoeing/Swimming etc
That was my my type of thing and incredibly energising - sadly my wife is no longer interested in anything like that.
It's possible that she's forgotten how much fun it is if she enjoyed it before. Maybe while on a boring beach holiday, do a day's sea kayaking?That was my my type of thing and incredibly energising - sadly my wife is no longer interested in anything like that.
I've been practicing doing sweet FA on the beach for a few years now and I'm starting to get really good at it.
Getting older helps. Forget it when you've got kids. When kids are around just accept you're gonna be busy
and enjoy it.They're happy days and memories.
You can't truly relax in a week it takes two. In my case it takes me 3 days to wind down and then I'm winding up again 3 days before returning home. If I went for a week I'd only have one day true downtime in the middle.
I also do a weeks skiing and a couple of trips a year on the bikes with the lads so that two weeks lying on a sun lounger taking the odd dip in the sea, going for a stroll to inspect the totty, reading a book, having a few beers at lunch followed by a nap in the afternoon is bloody fantastic.
Another trick is to leave your watch behind. That way you can have a beer when you feel like it, eat when you're hungry, sleep when you're tired. Just go with the flow without the schedules of life back home. Proper chillax.
Like I said, it takes practice but with true dedication and commitment it can be achieved.
Getting older helps. Forget it when you've got kids. When kids are around just accept you're gonna be busy
and enjoy it.They're happy days and memories.
You can't truly relax in a week it takes two. In my case it takes me 3 days to wind down and then I'm winding up again 3 days before returning home. If I went for a week I'd only have one day true downtime in the middle.
I also do a weeks skiing and a couple of trips a year on the bikes with the lads so that two weeks lying on a sun lounger taking the odd dip in the sea, going for a stroll to inspect the totty, reading a book, having a few beers at lunch followed by a nap in the afternoon is bloody fantastic.
Another trick is to leave your watch behind. That way you can have a beer when you feel like it, eat when you're hungry, sleep when you're tired. Just go with the flow without the schedules of life back home. Proper chillax.
Like I said, it takes practice but with true dedication and commitment it can be achieved.
Edited by Harry H on Tuesday 31st July 15:05
I feel your pain op. I'm an adults city break sort of guy. My eldest is 17 now so I've managed a few great city breaks with friends and the other half over the years but she is a sun-seeker and likes the heat, pools and beaches. Not my type of thing at all. We have a 2 year old now so the last couple of years all I've managed is a romantic getaway in Riga for 3 nights.
I spent a fortune on a week in Skiathos last year with the family and have just come back from Riviera Maya in Mexico for 2 weeks all in. Wow, it was far too hot. I got eaten alive as I did last year and I was bored sitting by the pool/beach. It cost an arm and a leg and the stress of check in, queues, airport security, doing the landing cards, having to explain to all and sundry that 2 of the party are lactose/diary intolerant, etc, etc. Try a holiday where one of your kids just wants to drink beer and play pool despite having a kids wrist band and the other one was so hot that Lucifer himself would have learned a new level of evil from him. I'm glad I'm back at work and I hate work
I spent a fortune on a week in Skiathos last year with the family and have just come back from Riviera Maya in Mexico for 2 weeks all in. Wow, it was far too hot. I got eaten alive as I did last year and I was bored sitting by the pool/beach. It cost an arm and a leg and the stress of check in, queues, airport security, doing the landing cards, having to explain to all and sundry that 2 of the party are lactose/diary intolerant, etc, etc. Try a holiday where one of your kids just wants to drink beer and play pool despite having a kids wrist band and the other one was so hot that Lucifer himself would have learned a new level of evil from him. I'm glad I'm back at work and I hate work
I like a beach holiday as it's a rare opportunity to switch off.
This year we've split our 2 weeks holiday period. Next week's a City break (Versailles and Paris), and the week after we're in a 5* hotel in Gran Canaria. It will also be different as we've 1 daughter the 1st week and both for the 2nd week.
As they're getting older now, I expect from next year my wife & I will be going on holiday mostly without them, which will be
(a) much cheaper, and,
(b) out of peak / school holiday season !
This year we've split our 2 weeks holiday period. Next week's a City break (Versailles and Paris), and the week after we're in a 5* hotel in Gran Canaria. It will also be different as we've 1 daughter the 1st week and both for the 2nd week.
As they're getting older now, I expect from next year my wife & I will be going on holiday mostly without them, which will be
(a) much cheaper, and,
(b) out of peak / school holiday season !
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